Biblical series hits the half way mark of its six-coin 2019 schedule with ‘The First Born Slain’

REVERSESERIAL

Three coins in on the six coin 2019 release schedule, and just three more issues shy of the half way mark in their epic ten-year programme, Scottsdale have added the 27th of their Biblical Series of 2oz silver coins to the range. The coins take their design from a series of woodcut illustrations of the New & Old Testament by 19th century French wood engraver, Paul Gustave Louis Christophe Doré.

This one retells the story of the tenth plague endured by the Egyptians as a punishment from God. In it, the first born of every Egyptian is killed, a tale also having roots in the folklore of the Egyptians themselves. Quite a macabre tale, it followed nine other plagues seen as ever intense warnings against the treatment meted out to the Israelites.

As we’ve said before, you don’t have to be religious to appreciate the work on offer her. Dore’s artwork has been optimised for a coin strike perfectly, and while you certainly have to be dedicated to consider compiling a set of these, many of the designs stand on there own. Beautifully struck, rimless, high-relief and antique finished, they are proof positive that it isn’t just the Mint of Poland that can employ this format effectively.

They’re packaged in a cardboard book-style box and with a Certificate of Authenticity, but regular buyers of these will likely want to splash out on one of the annually issued leather collectors boxes which look quite attractive. We’ve had a Coin Series Profile to the range running for a couple of years now, and if you check it out you can see all of the issues to date on a year by year basis. Available now.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $2 New Zealand (Niue)
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver 62.2 grams
DIMENSIONS 39.0 mm
FINISH Antique, high-relief
MINTAGE 1,499
BOX / COA Yes / Yes